Holi Festival of Colors: Why we Celebrate?
Yesterday we celebrated Holi, the festival of colors in our apartment complex. We friends got together and applied colors on each other. Even today I enjoy this as much as I used to enjoy it when I was a child. This is one Hindu festival, unique to India and Nepal, when people just let go of their inhibitions, get aggressive and enjoy their hidden crazy self. It is one of the twelve full moon festivals of the Hindus.
Festival of Holi marks the victory of good over evil. Traditionally the festival is celebrated with exchange of gulal (colors) and sweets. Bhang Pakora (Marijua_na Fritters) is the most sought after savory during this festival and Bhaang Thandai the favorite drink.
Other names for Holi festival – Dhuleti, Dhulandi, Rangwali Holi.
Holi Rituals
Holi holds both religious and cultural significance. It celebrates the triumph of good over evil, the arrival of spring, and the renewal of life. The festival is associated with various Hindu mythological stories, including the legend of Prahlad and Holika, Krishna and Radha’s playful love, and the burning of the demoness Holika by Lord Vishnu.
Holi’s religious rituals, Holika Dahan, take place on the night prior to Holi. Communities gather around bonfires to perform rituals known as Holika Dahan, also called Choti Holi. It celebrates the killing of the demoness ‘Holika’ by Bhagwan Vishnu. The effigy of Demoness Holika is burnt on a bonfire. A symbolic effigy of Holika, representing evil, is burnt amidst chanting of prayers and hymns. This ritual signifies the victory of good over evil and the triumph of righteousness.
According to legend –
Demoness Holika was sent by King Hiranyakashipu to kill his son Prahlada.
Demon king Hiranyakashipu with severe penance had acquired five magical powers of protection. Arrogance took over and he believed himself to be immortal. He forced his subjects to worship him as a god. However, his son Prahlada refused to do so. Prahlada believed Bhagwan Vishnu to be the supreme God. Hiranyakashipu attempted to kill his son in several ways, several times. Each time Vishnu Bhagwan protected Prahlada.
During one such attempt, Hiranyakashipu conspired with his demoness sister Holika to kill Prahlada. Holika had a special cloak that protected her from fire. She schemed to trick Prahlada into bonfire with her, then remove the cloak and expose Prahlada to the flames. However, by some miracle the cloak flew from Holika to Prahlada and she was reduced to ashes.
Therefore, people celebrate Holika Dahan every year to celebrate the victory of good over evil. Holi gets its name from Holika, the demoness sister of evil King Hiranyakashyap in Hindu mythology.
I have the full moon pictures of yesterday’s Holi Purnima.
All that You want to know About Holi
Holi Festival is one of the unique festivals of India. Popularly known as the Festival of Colors, it is one of the most vibrant and joyous festivals celebrated in several regions across India. The festival is celebrated over two days in most parts of India, although the intensity and duration of the celebrations can vary from region to region. People come out with fistful of colors are dab them on others. Isn’t it a fun way to welcome the Spring, the most colorful season of Mother Nature.
The Holi festival has its origin in India. Today Indian Holi festival has spread and is celebrated across its subcontinents. There are literary documentation that state the festival dates back to the 4th century.
Weeks before Holi, the frenzy and joyous mood sets in. Markets buzz with activity as people shop for colors, water guns (pichkaris), sweets, and festive attire. Homes are cleaned and decorated, and preparations are made for special foods and drinks associated with the festival.
Here is what is Holi celebration – The main day of Holi is marked by colorful celebrations where people play with dry colored powders (gulal) and colored water. People in Vrindavan city throw flower petals to celebrate Holi. Participants chase each other, smear colors on faces, and drench each other in water, spreading joy and laughter. It’s a time to let go of inhibitions and celebrate unity and diversity.
What is festival without some good food. This is one festival where I was often confused whether I liked the colors more or the food more. Holi is a time for indulging in delicious food and drinks. Families and communities come together to feast on an array of sweets, savory snacks, and festive drinks like thandai, which is infused with nuts, spices, and saffron. Special dishes like gujiya (sweet dumplings) and puran poli are prepared for the occasion.
Why Holi Festival is played with Colors?
There are many legends connected with the origin of this colorful festival and one of my favorite is this. It is based on love story and romance of Krishna and Radha.
Young Krishna who was in love with Radha always complained to his mother Yashoda that he was dark complexioned, while Radha was fair skinned. He was sore about this grave injustice of nature. Yashoda, the doting mother, to mollify Krishna asked him to apply color on Radha’s face and change her complexion to his choice.
Mischievous Krishna needed no more encouragement; he and his friends smeared Radha and her friends with colors… and thus began the Festival of Colors!
Holi is also a celebration of the divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Holi is played vigorously, sometimes unsafe for women, in Mathura and Vrindavan.
It is the children in particular who enjoy playing Holi the most, that too with water. They arm themselves with big pichkaris (syringes) to spray colored water on each other. People dance, exchange good wishes and sweets, offer prayers for a good harvest and bountiful season. Young lovers too take this opportunity to color and get colored by their mates to express love!
Organic Colors for Holi
In ancient times, Holi was played with colors made from natural sources like Turmeric for yellow, Neem for green, Palash for orange, but now we have many synthetic variations of colors. Some are quite harmful. Before you buy a pack of colors to play Holi check the label well for finding the make. Organic colors are safer.
How should you dress for Holi?
Wear white clothes, preferably old ones. If you intend to wear new clothes buy the cheap ones because they are bound to get colored. They will be TOTALLY ruined. A basic t-shirt, pants or a long dress that you can afford to discard should be fine.
How to protect your hair?
Oil your hair lavishly so that it is easy to wash off the colors. It will prevent Holi colours from seeping into hair.
When is Holi Festival of Colors celebrated?
Holi is celebrated at the end of winter, on the last full moon day of the Hindu lunar calendar month marking the onset of spring. Phagun, the 12th month of the Hindu calendar. The date falls typically in March, but sometimes late February too.
Holi Festival will be celebrated on 25th March 2024.
You want to play too? Grab your choicest color below. HAPPY HOLI!!!
Holi message
May you paint the lives of your loved ones with the colors of joy and happiness! Holi is a time for fostering harmony and forgiveness. People reconcile with estranged friends and family members, exchange greetings and gifts, and seek forgiveness for past wrongs. It’s a celebration of love, friendship, and the spirit of togetherness.
What are the other names of Holi Festival?
Holi Festival is also known by the names: the Festival of Colors or the Festival of Love. It is celebrated in India and other parts of South Asia. It is also called Phagwah in some regions, particularly in the Caribbean, where it is celebrated by descendants of Indian indentured laborers. in parts of West Bengal and Odisha it is known as Dol Jatra or Dol Purnima. Rangapanchami in Maharashtra and some other regions.
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blue!
loved your pictures !!
It looks as if everyone is having lots of fun with this holiday. I like the story concerning the origins of the day.
What a wonderful and colorful holiday! It sounds like a great careful and joyful time for everyone to participate in with so much color everywhere. 🙂
I’d always wondered what the story was behind all that. Thanks for the insight!
These pictures are gorgeous! I love the vibrant colors, thank you for sharing with us! -e
happy holi – i think we are stuck in some cultural vacuum so far away from home. maybe it is time to go back..i feel homesick seeing all those grt pics..
Fascinating. What a fun festival. I’ve been enjoying your blog a lot, so please stop my blog as I have something for you!
Thank you very much for sharing these beautiful snaps 🙂
Wonderful! What beautiful colors to choose from. My fair skinned, blond friend participated in a Holi last year and the dye held to her hair for weeks. She had very bright hair when she returned to the UK! 🙂
Pink, orange, and yellow for me please! How fun to read about your traditions!
Hi Indrani!
Happy (belated) Holi! Great shots and lovely colours…
Your Udaipur shots are stunning. You know I’ve a problem with night shots… 😉
And one day I’ll visit Udaipur also… 😉
Meanwhile Blogtrotter has Akbar’s capital city for you. Enjoy and have a great weekend!
What great fun! I would grab the pink. 🙂 Wish I could have been a part of it too. 🙂
Happy Holi to you! Looks like a fun festival.
What a fun celebration! Looks like you all got into the color!
beautiful clicks, seems u have gr8 fun….if u get chance do comee, see & celebrate holi in my home town Varanasi, its absolute fun there
Wonderful. As Pagan on this side of the globe, I thoroughly approve.
Thanks for the comment..we do wish you get to see some of our forests and wildlife..Happy Holi to you
Happy Holi !!!
this is the kind of holi i like… simple with colours and water.. !! nothing more nothing less !
happy Holi!
that’s a fun celebration!
Great to be included in this special festivity!
What lovely colours. They look so appealing.
I always learn something when I come over to you!
Similar to Mardi Gras, perhaps, which happens at the same time of year – letting in a little wildness.
looks like you had a great time! happy holi – albeit belated 🙂
This would be so fun to do!!Red and Pink fit my complexion…giggling!!
oh – so lovely!
Happy Holi..In South, we dont celebrate Holi much and Ive just celebrated it once in Mumbai during my hostel days..
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of a festival of colors….that is so cool!
looks like you all had a wonderful time thankyou for sharing your pictures
Oooh colourful. It sounds and looks like a great time. These photos are wonderful.
Awww..I miss Holi 🙁
Hmmm… Looks like you had a lovely time on Holi. 🙂
Hope you had a great time!!!
Btw, where are you in the picture?
🙂
Indrani – I can’t think of a lovlier way to celebrate – what a wonderful festival!
What a fun thing to do, looks like you all had fun and laughter
nice bolography of festival of colors…
Very interesting to read !!
Thanks for the clear explanation.
I love it from the face painting 🙂
It is not age related LOL
Looks like you had a lot of fun. Happy Holi to you too!